awkwardadv.adj.

Brit.

/ˈɔːkwəd/, U.S.

/ˈɔkwərd/,

/ˈɑkwərd/

Forms: Middle English awkeward, Middle English aykeward, owkeward, Middle English–1500s awkwarde, 1500s awkwar, ackward, acquart, aukerward, 1500s–1600s aukeward(e, 1600s auker'd, awkerd, 1600s–1700s awkard, 1700s aukard, 1500s–1800s aukward, 1500s– awkward; 1800s dialect awkwart, ackart, etc.

Etymology: < awk adj. + -ward suffix, i.e. ‘in an awk direction’; compare forward, backward. Like other adverbs in -ward, at length also used adjectively, compare to go forward, a forward motion, a forward youth.

†A. adv.

In the wrong direction, in the wrong way.

a. gen.

ΚΠ

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 691/2 I feare me some house be afyre..for they rynge aukewarde.

b. Upside down; hindside foremost.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > inversion > [adverb] > reversed or turned the wrong way

awkward1340

backwarda1475

wrong-way1693

reversely1752

reversewise1800

wrong-wise1849

back to front1869

hindside-foremost1929

arseways1938

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1541 Þe world þai all awkeward sett.

c. In a backward direction, with a back stroke.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in backward direction

hindwarda1300

behindc1340

backwardc1386

arrear1393

awkwardc1440

behindwardc1440

back-half1470

backc1500

backwardly1552

rearward1604

tailwards1617

aversely1646

hindlongs1668

rearwards1835

rearwardly1856

arseling1887

c1440 Morte Arth. 2247 The emperour thane egerly at Arthure he strykez, Awkwarde on þe umbrere.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 407 With the swerd..awkwart..him gawe, Wndyr the hat.

d. Asquint.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [adverb] > squinting

asquinta1398

squint1398

agoggle1510

nine ways (at once)1542

awkward?1589

squintingly1593

strabismally1893

?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat sig. 14 Eternitie, that knew how aukward he shoulde looke to all honesty, consulted..to make him squint-eied.

Categories »

e. In some modern dialects: = awalt adv. Obsolete or dialect.

B. adj.

†1. Turned the wrong way, averted, back-handed; not straightforward, oblique. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [adjective] > having wrong direction

awkc1440

awkwarda1522

awrya1657

the world > space > relative position > inversion > [adjective] > turned the reverse or wrong way

reversedc1390

awkwarda1522

reverteda1616

renversa1652

retroverted1735

retroverse1841

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. vii. 2 Dydo, aggrevit ay..With acquart luke gan towart hym behald.

c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Bviii Who so hath not some aukerward way to helpe himself, but foloweth his nose..alwais straight forward.

1866 Cumbrld. Border Bal. 468 Till Græme gae Bewick an ackward stroke.

†2. Froward, untoward, perverse, in conduct. (Passing into ‘cross-grained, cantankerous, disagreeable in behaviour,’ and so into B. 7b.) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > perverse

wharfedc1175

thwart-over?c1225

fromwardc1275

thwarta1325

wilgernc1325

contrariousa1340

froward1340

rebours1340

awaywarda1375

overthwartc1384

protervec1384

waywardc1384

arsewardc1386

wrawc1386

wrawfulc1386

crabbeda1400

ungraitha1400

wraweda1400

awklyc1400

perversec1425

awkc1440

perversiosec1475

crooked1508

wrayward1516

awkward1530

difficilec1533

peevish1539

protervous1547

overthwarting1552

untowardly1561

difficult1589

cross1594

cama1600

frowish1601

awkwardish1613

haggardly1635

pigheadeda1637

cross-grained1647

wry1649

crossfulc1680

thwarting1718

kim-kama1734

wronghead1737

piggish1742

witherly1790

top-thrawn1808

contrary1850

cussed1858

three-cornered1863

thwarteous1890

bloody-minded1935

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 305/2 Awkwarde, frowarde, peruers.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xxiii. f. 24 Blynde guydes..of an awkwarde religion doe streigne out a gnatte, and swalowe of a camell.

a1628 J. Preston New Covenant (1634) 310 The heart..is awkward and froward and contentious.

1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. iii. 230 But was Implacable, and Auker'd To all that Interlop'd, and Hawker'd.

1743 H. Fielding Jonathan Wild i. v, in Misc. III. 28 I have an aukward Pride in my Nature.

1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 61 They had such aukward Notions of Things.

†3. Untoward, unfavourable, adverse to one's course. literal and figurative. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [adjective] > unfavourable

contrariousc1320

bada1325

contraryinga1340

adversea1393

frowarda1400

contrairc1400

fremd1423

adversant?a1425

sinister1432

perversea1450

undisposed1456

sinistral?a1475

contrary1477

favourless1509

unfriendlya1513

thwarting1530

wayward?1544

contrariant1548

disfavourable1561

cross1565

unindifferent1565

sinistrous1566

haggard1578

unkindly1579

backward1582

awkward1587

improsperous1598

thwart1610

unpropitious1613

averted1619

untoward1621

averse1623

impropitious1638

sinister1726

unfavourable1748

untowardly1756

unfavouring1835

1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1555/1 The ackward and frowning hap of sundrie woorthie gentlemen.

a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. I With awkward windes, and sore tempests driuen.

1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iii. ii. 83 Thrise by aukward winds driuen back from Englands bounds.

1663 J. Heath Flagellum (1672) 21 Which aukward beginning..sorted with a very sorry Issue.

a. Of things: Untoward or unfavourable for one's purpose; ill-adapted for use; clumsy in operation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > inconvenience > [adjective] > unhandy

unwield1390

unhandsome1548

unwieldy1552

wieldy1588

awk1593

unmanageable1600

uneasy1611

unhandy1664

awkward1695

1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 56 The methods they used of Agriculture..were so aukward and tedious.

1743 tr. L. Heister Gen. Syst. Surg. I. ii. 452 Perform good Cures, though in an aukward manner.

1783 P. Pott Chirurg. Wks. (new ed.) II. 7 A multitude of awkward unmanageable instruments.

1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art i. 19 Awkward and unfortunate efforts..at the development of a social system.

b. Of persons: Lacking dexterity or skill in performing their part; clumsy in action, bungling. Phr. awkward squad: see squad n.¹ 1b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > clumsy or awkward

stubblea1300

lubber?1515

awkward1530

unwieldy1530

lubberlike1572

unwieldsome1579

lubberly1580

looby1582

wieldy1588

clumsy1597

ungainly1611

unqueme1611

untowardly1611

clouter-likea1624

hip-shot1642

loobish1648

loobily1655

bumble-arsed1661

clouterly1675

lubbard1679

fumbling1681

sinistrousa1682

maladroit1685

shammockinga1704

ungain1710

splay-footed1716

gawky1759

hobbledehoyish1812

uncouthly1821

nunting1836

shammocky1841

numb1854

awkwardish1860

slummocky?1861

numb-footed1867

gawkish1876

flat-footed1899

brontosaurian1909

shamblya1937

slew-foot1945

ham-footed1960

klutzy1961

dorkus1979

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 305/2 Awkwar leftehanded, gauche.

1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 270 They were as unexpert as their Souldiers aukward.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. ii. 27 I have not seen a more clumsy, awkward, and unhandy People.

1816 J. Gilchrist Philos. Etymol. 204 They consider him as belonging to the awkward squad.

1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood II. i. 15 What a blundering awkward fellow I was to startle you as I did.

5. Ungraceful, ungainly in action or form; uncouth:

a. of things, action, speech, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adjective] > ungraceful

graceless?1507

clumsy1597

ungainly1611

awkwarda1616

disgraceful1615

unwieldya1635

dishonest1653

ungraceful1667

ungracious1695

ungain1710

unswan-like1837

unheppen1855

disgracious1870

a1616 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida (1623) i. iii. 149 With ridiculous and aukward action..He Pageants vs.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 299. ¶2 That they may not learn any of my aukward Tricks.

1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 770 Vulcan with awkward Grace his Office plies.

1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. vii. 56 A variety of awkward gambols.

b. of persons.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adjective] > ungraceful > specifically of person

awkward1665

scrambling1765

orming1903

1665 S. Pepys Diary 15 July (1972) VI. 159 The most awkerd man I ever met withal in my life.

1678 T. Rymer in C. M. Ingleby & L. T. Smith Shakespeare's Cent. Prayse (1879) 366 Awkward and unsightly, as the monster in the Tempest.

1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer i. 14 The son, an aukward booby.

1841 T. Carlyle On Heroes i. 31 Large awkward gianthood.

a. Of things: Embarrassing, inconvenient.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or awkward

ungaina1500

ungainful1565

awky1655

awkward1709

embarrassing1778

unked1861

sticky1871

1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 35 If an awkard Shame..have not a greater Share in this mistaken Conduct.

1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France II. 182 Both seem rather in an aukward situation.

1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) IV. xvii. 58 The two Minsters of Winchester Old and New stood in awkward neighbourhood to each other.

b. Of persons: Not at one's ease; embarrassed.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > [adjective] > embarrassed

confounded1362

awkward1713

embarrassed1756

constrained1801

gêné1806

1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 44. 288 I am very aukward in the Endeavour.

1834 L. Hunt Town (1848) iii. 146 He was..beginning to feel awkward with his Whig friends.

1845 B. Disraeli Sybil II. iii. v. 71 It is civilization that makes us awkward, for it gives us an uncertain position.

a. Of things: Not easy to deal with; requiring cautious action; euphemistic for ‘rather dangerous’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adjective]

arvethc885

uneathOE

arvethlichc1000

evilc1175

hardc1175

deara1225

derfa1225

illc1330

wickeda1375

uneasy1398

difficul?a1450

difficile?1473

difficulta1527

unready1535

craggy1582

spiny1604

tough1619

uphill1622

shrewda1626

spinousa1638

scabrous1646

spinose1660

rugged1663

cranka1745

tight1764

thraward1818

nasty1828

upstream1847

awkward1860

pricklyc1862

bristling1871

sticky1871

rocky1873

dodgy1898

challengeful1927

solid1943

ball-busting1944

challenging1975

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §16. 118 We let ourselves down an awkward face of rock.

1872 H. I. Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lake District (1879) 195 The ridge is rather awkward-looking.

1881 R. D. Blackmore Christowell (1882) xi ‘Be careful, if you please, there is an awkward step here.’

b. Of persons: Dangerous to meddle with.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things) > difficult to deal with (of persons)

difficult1589

awkwardish1613

awkward1863

sticky1882

1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters vi. 144 He is an ‘awkward customer’ when his confidence is betrayed.

c. the awkward age: the time of life when one is no longer a child and yet not properly grown up. (Cf. French l'âge ingrat.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > young person > [noun] > adolescent > adolescence or puberty

pubertyc1384

adolescence?a1425

adolescency?a1475

in one's teens1596

pubes1637

pubescency1658

pubescence1822

teenhood1845

hog age1848

the awkward age1895

prepubescence1908

prepuberty1922

teenagery1950

teenagedness1952

jean-age1959

1895 Windsor Mag. 1 705/1 She was..at what ladies call ‘the awkward age’.

1928 Daily Mirror 7 Dec. 11/2 ‘How old are you, Bobbie?’ ‘I'm just at the awkward age.’ ‘What do you call the awkward age?’ ‘I'm too old to cry and too young to swear.’

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	awkward
释义	awkwardadv.adj. Brit. /ˈɔːkwəd/, U.S. /ˈɔkwərd/, /ˈɑkwərd/ Forms: Middle English awkeward, Middle English aykeward, owkeward, Middle English–1500s awkwarde, 1500s awkwar, ackward, acquart, aukerward, 1500s–1600s aukeward(e, 1600s auker'd, awkerd, 1600s–1700s awkard, 1700s aukard, 1500s–1800s aukward, 1500s– awkward; 1800s dialect awkwart, ackart, etc. Etymology: < awk adj. + -ward suffix, i.e. ‘in an awk direction’; compare forward, backward. Like other adverbs in -ward, at length also used adjectively, compare to go forward, a forward motion, a forward youth. †A. adv. In the wrong direction, in the wrong way. a. gen. ΚΠ 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 691/2 I feare me some house be afyre..for they rynge aukewarde. b. Upside down; hindside foremost. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > inversion > [adverb] > reversed or turned the wrong way awkward1340 backwarda1475 wrong-way1693 reversely1752 reversewise1800 wrong-wise1849 back to front1869 hindside-foremost1929 arseways1938 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1541 Þe world þai all awkeward sett. c. In a backward direction, with a back stroke. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in backward direction hindwarda1300 behindc1340 backwardc1386 arrear1393 awkwardc1440 behindwardc1440 back-half1470 backc1500 backwardly1552 rearward1604 tailwards1617 aversely1646 hindlongs1668 rearwards1835 rearwardly1856 arseling1887 c1440 Morte Arth. 2247 The emperour thane egerly at Arthure he strykez, Awkwarde on þe umbrere. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 407 With the swerd..awkwart..him gawe, Wndyr the hat. d. Asquint. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [adverb] > squinting asquinta1398 squint1398 agoggle1510 nine ways (at once)1542 awkward?1589 squintingly1593 strabismally1893 ?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat sig. 14 Eternitie, that knew how aukward he shoulde looke to all honesty, consulted..to make him squint-eied. Categories » e. In some modern dialects: = awalt adv. Obsolete or dialect. B. adj. †1. Turned the wrong way, averted, back-handed; not straightforward, oblique. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adjective] > having wrong direction awkc1440 awkwarda1522 awrya1657 the world > space > relative position > inversion > [adjective] > turned the reverse or wrong way reversedc1390 awkwarda1522 reverteda1616 renversa1652 retroverted1735 retroverse1841 a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. vii. 2 Dydo, aggrevit ay..With acquart luke gan towart hym behald. c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Bviii Who so hath not some aukerward way to helpe himself, but foloweth his nose..alwais straight forward. 1866 Cumbrld. Border Bal. 468 Till Græme gae Bewick an ackward stroke. †2. Froward, untoward, perverse, in conduct. (Passing into ‘cross-grained, cantankerous, disagreeable in behaviour,’ and so into B. 7b.) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > perverse wharfedc1175 thwart-over?c1225 fromwardc1275 thwarta1325 wilgernc1325 contrariousa1340 froward1340 rebours1340 awaywarda1375 overthwartc1384 protervec1384 waywardc1384 arsewardc1386 wrawc1386 wrawfulc1386 crabbeda1400 ungraitha1400 wraweda1400 awklyc1400 perversec1425 awkc1440 perversiosec1475 crooked1508 wrayward1516 awkward1530 difficilec1533 peevish1539 protervous1547 overthwarting1552 untowardly1561 difficult1589 cross1594 cama1600 frowish1601 awkwardish1613 haggardly1635 pigheadeda1637 cross-grained1647 wry1649 crossfulc1680 thwarting1718 kim-kama1734 wronghead1737 piggish1742 witherly1790 top-thrawn1808 contrary1850 cussed1858 three-cornered1863 thwarteous1890 bloody-minded1935 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 305/2 Awkwarde, frowarde, peruers. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xxiii. f. 24 Blynde guydes..of an awkwarde religion doe streigne out a gnatte, and swalowe of a camell. a1628 J. Preston New Covenant (1634) 310 The heart..is awkward and froward and contentious. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. iii. 230 But was Implacable, and Auker'd To all that Interlop'd, and Hawker'd. 1743 H. Fielding Jonathan Wild i. v, in Misc. III. 28 I have an aukward Pride in my Nature. 1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 61 They had such aukward Notions of Things. †3. Untoward, unfavourable, adverse to one's course. literal and figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [adjective] > unfavourable contrariousc1320 bada1325 contraryinga1340 adversea1393 frowarda1400 contrairc1400 fremd1423 adversant?a1425 sinister1432 perversea1450 undisposed1456 sinistral?a1475 contrary1477 favourless1509 unfriendlya1513 thwarting1530 wayward?1544 contrariant1548 disfavourable1561 cross1565 unindifferent1565 sinistrous1566 haggard1578 unkindly1579 backward1582 awkward1587 improsperous1598 thwart1610 unpropitious1613 averted1619 untoward1621 averse1623 impropitious1638 sinister1726 unfavourable1748 untowardly1756 unfavouring1835 1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1555/1 The ackward and frowning hap of sundrie woorthie gentlemen. a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. I With awkward windes, and sore tempests driuen. 1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iii. ii. 83 Thrise by aukward winds driuen back from Englands bounds. 1663 J. Heath Flagellum (1672) 21 Which aukward beginning..sorted with a very sorry Issue. 4. a. Of things: Untoward or unfavourable for one's purpose; ill-adapted for use; clumsy in operation. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > inconvenience > [adjective] > unhandy unwield1390 unhandsome1548 unwieldy1552 wieldy1588 awk1593 unmanageable1600 uneasy1611 unhandy1664 awkward1695 1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 56 The methods they used of Agriculture..were so aukward and tedious. 1743 tr. L. Heister Gen. Syst. Surg. I. ii. 452 Perform good Cures, though in an aukward manner. 1783 P. Pott Chirurg. Wks. (new ed.) II. 7 A multitude of awkward unmanageable instruments. 1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art i. 19 Awkward and unfortunate efforts..at the development of a social system. b. Of persons: Lacking dexterity or skill in performing their part; clumsy in action, bungling. Phr. awkward squad: see squad n.¹ 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > clumsy or awkward stubblea1300 lubber?1515 awkward1530 unwieldy1530 lubberlike1572 unwieldsome1579 lubberly1580 looby1582 wieldy1588 clumsy1597 ungainly1611 unqueme1611 untowardly1611 clouter-likea1624 hip-shot1642 loobish1648 loobily1655 bumble-arsed1661 clouterly1675 lubbard1679 fumbling1681 sinistrousa1682 maladroit1685 shammockinga1704 ungain1710 splay-footed1716 gawky1759 hobbledehoyish1812 uncouthly1821 nunting1836 shammocky1841 numb1854 awkwardish1860 slummocky?1861 numb-footed1867 gawkish1876 flat-footed1899 brontosaurian1909 shamblya1937 slew-foot1945 ham-footed1960 klutzy1961 dorkus1979 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 305/2 Awkwar leftehanded, gauche. 1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 270 They were as unexpert as their Souldiers aukward. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. ii. 27 I have not seen a more clumsy, awkward, and unhandy People. 1816 J. Gilchrist Philos. Etymol. 204 They consider him as belonging to the awkward squad. 1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood II. i. 15 What a blundering awkward fellow I was to startle you as I did. 5. Ungraceful, ungainly in action or form; uncouth: a. of things, action, speech, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adjective] > ungraceful graceless?1507 clumsy1597 ungainly1611 awkwarda1616 disgraceful1615 unwieldya1635 dishonest1653 ungraceful1667 ungracious1695 ungain1710 unswan-like1837 unheppen1855 disgracious1870 a1616 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida (1623) i. iii. 149 With ridiculous and aukward action..He Pageants vs. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 299. ¶2 That they may not learn any of my aukward Tricks. 1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 770 Vulcan with awkward Grace his Office plies. 1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. vii. 56 A variety of awkward gambols. b. of persons. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adjective] > ungraceful > specifically of person awkward1665 scrambling1765 orming1903 1665 S. Pepys Diary 15 July (1972) VI. 159 The most awkerd man I ever met withal in my life. 1678 T. Rymer in C. M. Ingleby & L. T. Smith Shakespeare's Cent. Prayse (1879) 366 Awkward and unsightly, as the monster in the Tempest. 1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer i. 14 The son, an aukward booby. 1841 T. Carlyle On Heroes i. 31 Large awkward gianthood. 6. a. Of things: Embarrassing, inconvenient. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or awkward ungaina1500 ungainful1565 awky1655 awkward1709 embarrassing1778 unked1861 sticky1871 1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 35 If an awkard Shame..have not a greater Share in this mistaken Conduct. 1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France II. 182 Both seem rather in an aukward situation. 1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) IV. xvii. 58 The two Minsters of Winchester Old and New stood in awkward neighbourhood to each other. b. Of persons: Not at one's ease; embarrassed. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > [adjective] > embarrassed confounded1362 awkward1713 embarrassed1756 constrained1801 gêné1806 1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 44. 288 I am very aukward in the Endeavour. 1834 L. Hunt Town (1848) iii. 146 He was..beginning to feel awkward with his Whig friends. 1845 B. Disraeli Sybil II. iii. v. 71 It is civilization that makes us awkward, for it gives us an uncertain position. 7. a. Of things: Not easy to deal with; requiring cautious action; euphemistic for ‘rather dangerous’. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adjective] arvethc885 uneathOE arvethlichc1000 evilc1175 hardc1175 deara1225 derfa1225 illc1330 wickeda1375 uneasy1398 difficul?a1450 difficile?1473 difficulta1527 unready1535 craggy1582 spiny1604 tough1619 uphill1622 shrewda1626 spinousa1638 scabrous1646 spinose1660 rugged1663 cranka1745 tight1764 thraward1818 nasty1828 upstream1847 awkward1860 pricklyc1862 bristling1871 sticky1871 rocky1873 dodgy1898 challengeful1927 solid1943 ball-busting1944 challenging1975 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §16. 118 We let ourselves down an awkward face of rock. 1872 H. I. Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lake District (1879) 195 The ridge is rather awkward-looking. 1881 R. D. Blackmore Christowell (1882) xi ‘Be careful, if you please, there is an awkward step here.’ b. Of persons: Dangerous to meddle with. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things) > difficult to deal with (of persons) difficult1589 awkwardish1613 awkward1863 sticky1882 1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters vi. 144 He is an ‘awkward customer’ when his confidence is betrayed. c. the awkward age: the time of life when one is no longer a child and yet not properly grown up. (Cf. French l'âge ingrat.) ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > young person > [noun] > adolescent > adolescence or puberty pubertyc1384 adolescence?a1425 adolescency?a1475 in one's teens1596 pubes1637 pubescency1658 pubescence1822 teenhood1845 hog age1848 the awkward age1895 prepubescence1908 prepuberty1922 teenagery1950 teenagedness1952 jean-age1959 1895 Windsor Mag. 1 705/1 She was..at what ladies call ‘the awkward age’. 1928 Daily Mirror 7 Dec. 11/2 ‘How old are you, Bobbie?’ ‘I'm just at the awkward age.’ ‘What do you call the awkward age?’ ‘I'm too old to cry and too young to swear.’ This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adv.adj.1340
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